Gyroscope.



Wit no R. G. HAINES.

GYROSOOPE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 29, 1908. 91 9 ,004, Patented Apr. 20, 1909.

Smxmtoz r'ention.

UNHED 'srnras rarnnr Fries.

RALPH G. HAINES, OF GIRARD, KANSAS.

eriaoscorn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 20, 1909.

Application filed Tfiay 29, 1908. Serial No. 436,720.

object of the invention being to provide a gyroscope to be used as a support for tables and the like on sea going vessels, whereby tables may be rendered self-balancing or leveling and unaffected by the rolling or pitching of the vessel. 7

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as herein fully described, illustrated and claimed. i

in the accompanying drawings :F igure 1 is a side elevation partly in section, showing the gyroscope applied to a table and arranged in accordance with the present in- Fig. "2, is a detail view partly in elevatioiuand partly in section, showing the manner of supporting the gyroscope frame.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a table top to the under side of which is secured an annular frame or gyroscope ring, the same being provided with flanges or extensions 3 secured to the under side of the table by; suitable fasteners 4. At'its bottom the ring or frame 2 is provided with a central pin 5 preferably formed as an integral part of said frame and having its lower end mounted in a bearing 6 secured to the floor. The bearing 6 may be either an ordinary plain or cone hearing as shown in Fig. 1 or said hearing may be constructed as illustrated in Fig. 2 in which it will beseen that the central pin is provided with a spherical head or enlargement 7 while the bearing embodies a base 8 secured to the floor and a catch 9 which is screwed or otherwise connected to the base, the base and cap together being chambered out to form a spherical socket or recess 10 in which are arranged antifriction balls 11 which surround the spherical head 7 and form an anti-friction bearing therefor.

Extending vertically and diametrically within the ring 2 is a shaft 12 which forms the shaft of the gyroscope and also the shaft of the motor, the motor being connected at 13 and preferably being in the form of an electric motor the armature 14 of which is mounted on and carried by the shaft 12. I

Mounted fast on the shaft 12 about mid-way of the length of the latter is a balance wheel 15 which by reason of its rapid rotation effeeted by the motor 13 maintains the shaft 12 always in a vertical position and by reason of the fact that said shaft has its opposite ends mounted in bearings 16 and 17 respectively at the top and bottom ends thereof, said bearings being carried by the ring or frame 2, the latter as well as the tabletop supported thereby are always maintained in a relation which keeps the table top in a horizontal position irrespective of the rolling 01' pitching motion of the vessel.

\Vhile the gyroscope support is shown as applied to a table it will be understood that such support may also be utilized in connection with other articles of furniture and the like on sea going vessels for the purpose of maintaining such articles in proper position so that they will not be affected by the motion of the vessel. Any suitable or convenient means may be used to prevent the table from being influenced by the rotative movementof the balance wheel.

I claim v 1. A balancing support for tables and the like embodying an annular frame or ring, a center pivot bearing at the bottom of said ring on which the ring is adapted to rock, a motor driven shaft extending vertically within said ring and bearing at its opposite extremities against the ring, and a horizontally disposed balance wheel fast on said shaft and rotating within the annularframe of the support, substantially as described.

2. A balancing support for tables and the like comprising an annular supporting frame or ring, a center pivot hearing at the bottom of said ring on which the ring may rock, said bearing embodying separable sections, a spherical head on the center bearing and anti-friction balls interposed between said spherical head and the bearing 5601110115,;

:1 motor driven shaft extending vertically within said frame or ring, and a horizontally disposed. balance wheel fast on sald shaft.

- In testimony whereof L afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RALPH G. HAINFS.

Witnesses:

W. K. Po'r'rca, JOHN C. COOKSON. 

